Machine for operating on sheet material



Sept. 28 1926. 1,660,997

H. M. Ross MACHINE FOR OPERATING 0N SHEET MATERIAL Filed Sept. 28 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3513 M abhor/n Sept. 28 1926.

H. M.'RO$$ MACHINE FOR oPERA-EI-I-NG 0N SHEET MATERIAL FiIed'S'p't 28 1925 2 heets-Sheet 2 II E amoewco'c Fetented Sept. 28, 1926.

HUGH M. nossgos .WQODHAVEN, NEW- YOBK,3A$S I;G 1\T;QB ,IE WA E ANGE MACHINE WORKS, ItNQ, Q15 BROOKLYN, YORK, A-QQQBZQRAL'EIO-N OF NEW YORK- m ms ee Q -m es sea a Esa sE Application filed September 2 8 1923 s n in (5655 362,

ltfl'y invention relates to machines feroperating on sheet material, this invention be in' Q' an improvement On that disclesed and claimed in my United States Patent No. 1,4et5fll8, dated February 20th, 1923. -1n ii fichi'nes sueh as that shown in the said patent an operatien performing me1nber,' sueh a'sa dye or piineh,iseniployed te operate on suecessiye portions of the inatei lal' 111 rows rseries.

The principal object of this invention s to provide improved means for predue ng a 'elative'shifting or feeding moyeinentbetween the sheet and the Operation PerfQlfl'll: ing 'ineniber. p

Other objects, features andadventages o the inyention will appear {more fully in the following detailed description and appended claims r The aceempanying drawings foi n ng a part 01" this specification illustrate a In'aeh ne containing one enibedi nent oi the lilYQIltion.

Infthe drawings,

Fig; '1 is, a side eley'ationof the mach ne, some the artsbeing "shown sect on E ig. 2 is a plan View illustrating means fer supporting and holding the sheet while it isopeitated upon and parts of theepera; tien p erterlning niech ani'sni midi-11 118 1 1 11- nisin for controlling the relative feeding movement between the sheet and the epeg'ation'perforining member or toel. 1

V Fig; Sis a cross section showlngi. the sheet support.

ig. i is a transverse seetionalyiew taken subs intially eemmn of the die n eehai n and showing in addition to such ineeh anisni partsef the means foiicentrolling thelatei al movementof the sheet eperated. upen.

is a yiew pai tly in sectien and pai'tlyin plan showing part 0f the ineeha ni sni for controlling the direetien of the aforesaid relative feeding meyelnent.

Fig. 6, isan elevation of the sheehearrier forming part of the machine as diselosed.

Referring to Fig. 1, the bases Qfithe machine carries'a frame b which is tilted at a suitable angle to the vertieal. In thissfra ne is journaled. the main driy ng shaft 0 which may be driven by any, suitable means, sueh as the pulley Z; At the lbacl; 9f the bed of the trainee is ari anged the-lexy erlinenibr 7' ee tig i.M d ;),btdhet1ieo: g 'neh l i t h llPR E mQP QI Qt Went (Fig. 4) is carriedby a plunger guided in suitable ways inthe-franie Z) and actuated fro n a crank m nthe shaft c by the pitman see Fig.

The-frame b is preyided with a sheet supporter table 0. For limiting the rearward moye nent of the sheet and insuring the properpositiening thereof in a fore and aft direction relatiyfefto-the die, straightedges as are elnpleyed, eaeh of which is formed of a strip 'i' angle iron against one flange of Which'the rear edge bf'the sheet is adapted to bear. t Then, thesheet is introduced into the machine with its real edge in Contact, with the straight edges, 'it'isreceii ed by the which is made to gripit and holdit firinly to feedfitllengthwiseef the table 0 under the reeipiocating punch member.

Referring mere. partieularly to Figs. 4 and 6 thisearrieneemprises a rack ar 4 having square teeth along its front edge. Near eaeh end of'the rack bar 4 is secured a supper-ting bracket Qproyided with a otedfpresseifoif sheet gripper The g i per is adapted t befQrced into gi 'ipping relationto the sheet by the bp retioaor the shaft 17 operatedby handle 18; 51- aniere detai ed ides pti hei th v s -Pre n its eperatien attention is directed to the abei i mentioned" United States Patent N b. 1,445,- 718; 'l h e carrier is inoyed longitiidin with respect to the table 0 by meehani driven fljOlllthQ inain shaft 0. To this e e sha t; Q, s b'wn, ha ec r e to a sp reeket wheel 20 which. drives a chain'2l which inltiii n drives a spl oeket wheel 22 (seelt e l 3. 91 "T procke hee 22 s se ured to, a, b i ledes 2 wh c me he with and driy es' beveled gears; 2 k and 25, respeetiyely, in epppsite di 'ectien abQut the sha t 6 be. hifc theg ar find a l e e y' b nte r Either of the. gears 24 and 25 may be secured in driving-[relation to thesl al f t 26 by a elutchjn en berQ'Tmeunte rilpe i hsis a ft 2Q.el k lmomb eale g id I U intobherativ relatiiini to either ()fthe gears 24-017' 25 by mech nism w ch w l b more fully. deseigibed' helieiiiit -t i The lutch 2 m y. be jfany suita 'typs, 2 x ple, a -derib le fiZiCtlQIl cluteh, the opposite sides Of which are Qqnstrueted and o p lfate a Sh wn U- patent to Johnson 40 s emed e t s ts 7 n sti g, ith a gear 28 loosely mounted on shaft 29 and adapted to drive sprocket wheel 30 through a suitable yielding or slip coupling.

The slip coupling shown, which is of the friction type, includes friction discs 31 and 32 engaging opposite faces of the sprocket 30, the disk bearing against the upper face of the gear 28. In order to maintain the proper amount of friction between the discs 31 and 32 and the sprocket 30 and gear 28, av spring is provided. This spring exerts a yielding exial thrust against a nut 3t secured on the shaft 29, tending to lift the said shaft and thereby holding the discs 31 and and the sprocket 30 with the desired degree of pressure between the gear 28 and the friction member 85 carried by the support 36. The amount of friction may be regulated by adjustment of the nut 3% upon the shaft 29. To facilitate release of the coupling, a lever 37 is pivoted as at :38 and arranged to bear upon the upper surface of the nut 3i; so that by elevation of the outer end of the lever 37 the shaft 29 may be depressed and the coupling released.

A chain 39 (see Figs. 1 and 2) meshes with the sprocket 30 and also with idle sprockets t0, -11, t2, t3 and at, the ends of this chain being secured to the respective ends of the rack 4: of the sheet carrier, as shown in Fig. 6. The sprocket at is arranged to hold the chain 39 in operative relation to the sprocket 30 and to this end it is, as shown, arranged in proximity to the sprocket 30 in engagement with the opposite face of the chain 39.

The rotation of the sprocket 30 from the driving shaft c accordingly moves the chain 39 to shift the sheet carrier longitudinally of the machine to carry the material operated upon between the coacting punch members j, Z. This tendency to. move the sheet carrier is continuous throughout a complete stroke of the carrier during the retation of the shaft 0. But by reason of the slip coupling described above the feeding of the sheet carrier may be arrested or prevented to enable the punch members j, 70 to operate upon the sheet material.

Referring to Fig. L the means shown for intermittently checking or arresting the sheet carrier comprises pawl 15 slidably mounted in the frame so as to cooperate with the teeth of the rack 1. The pawl is operatively connected with one arm of a bell crank lever 16 which has the other arm connected by a link 17 with a lever 48. The lever as is connected by a link 49 (see Fig. 1) with a lever 50, also pivoted into frame 7) and carrying a roller 51 bearing upon cam 52 secured to the shaft 0. The free end of the lever is preferably shaped as a handle 50 so as to facilitate manual operation of the retaining pawl 45. A spring 53 holds lever 48 in such position that the roller 51 on lever 50 normally presses against the cam The pawl 45 normally retains the rack (and also the carrier) against advance; but on each rotation of the shaft 0 the forward end of lever 50 is momentarily depressed by the cam and the pawl t5 is withdrawn from the rack, releasing the rack but quickly returning it to engagement with it. There is thus effected an intermittent advance of the sheet across the machine, the several increments of advance depending upon the distance between the teeth upon the rack.

Suitable means are desirably provided for cutting away the scrap at the back of the sheet after the operation of the punch members j, 7a. Mechanism for this purpose is fully illustrated in my aforesaid Patent No. 1&45518 and is thought to need no detailed description herein. It is desirable to provide automatic means to release the sheet material from the carrier at the end of each stroke to permit the sheet to fall back to its new position against straight edge .11. Suitable means for this purpose are also illus trated in said Letters Patent No. 1,445,718.

My invention also contemplates the provision of mechanism whereby the clutch member is automatically shifted to effect the reversal of the feeding movement of the sheet carrier whenever the carrier has completed substantially a full stroke in one di rection. To this end the shaft 17 of the carrier is provided with end portions (3") each of which is adapted to engage and shift an arm (51 pivoted at 62, (see Fig. 1) at the end stroke of the carrier. The arms 61 are arranged at opposite sides of the machine and are connected by a link 63 (see Fig. 2) so as to be shiftable simultaneously. Movement of the carrier at the end portion of one stroke accordingly etfects the movement of both arms 61 in one direction while the movement of the carrier on the succeeding stroke moves the arms (31, in the opposite direction etc. Arm 61 (referring to Fig. 2) is connected by a link (34 (Figs. 1 and 2) to one arm of a bell crank lever (35 (see Figs. 2 and The other arm of the lever is connected by a link 66 to the clutch member 27. The shifting of the arm 61 by the carrier accordingly effects shifting of the clutch 27 to secure first one of the gears 2t or 25 into driving relation to the shaft 26 and then the other. to thereby cause the shaft 26 to be driven alternately in opposite directions and thereby automatically change the direction of the feeding movement of the carrier at the end of each stroke thereof.

In operation, a sheet having been placed upon the table 0 so that the gripping means of the carrier will fall with its rear edge into contact with the straight edges .1, the oplit! operation. Atthe end of the stroke of the carrier, the scrap having been cleared away and the sheet having fallen back with its 'rear edge into contact with the straight edges, the carrier travels in the opposite direction. The operation of the mechanism on the rear movement of the carrier is the same as it was upon the advance thereof.

The automatic operation of the machine may be continued throughout "successive rows of operation by the punch memlbers j, 76 until the entire sheet has been operated upon. V

It will be seen that my invention results in a machine which is simple in construction, which requires no expert attentionto keep it in operative condition and which is quick and economical in operation. It is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the details shown and described and that -many modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention 'andthe scope of the appended claims. I

7 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is 1. The combination ofa framework, operation performing means supported thereby, means for holding the material to be operated upon, means tending tofproduce a continuous feeding movement of said holding means with respect to said operation performing means, said movement producing means including a yielding coupling, and means controlled "by said operation performing means for intermittently preventing such relative. movement against the action of said movement producing means.

7 2. The combination of operation perform.- ing means, means for holding'the material to be operated upon, movement producing means tending to produce a continuous relative feeding movement in either of two opposite directions between said operation performing means and said holding means to effect operative positioning of successive portions of the material in each of said directions, said movement producing means including a slip coupling, means mounted at each end of a path of movement of said holding means for controlling said movement producing means to reverse the same at the end of such movement in one direction, and

means for intermittently preventingusuch relative movement when said. movement producing means is operating in. eitherl'direction. 7 '3. The combination of operation performing means, means for holdingthe material to be operated upon, movement/producing means tendingto produce. a continuous. relative feeding-movement. in either. of. .two ,opposite directions between .said operation performing means and said .holdingmeans to permit operative positioning of successive portions .of-the material in; each o-fsaid directions, said movement. producing means including a friction coupling and a fl'exible elongated member between said coupling and said holding means,means.provided with an operating element at each end .of the path of movement of said holding means for controlling-said movementproducingmeans to reverse the same automatically attheend of such movement in vone direction, and automatic means for intermittently preventing such relative movement .Whensaid movement producing means is operatingin either direction.

4:. The combination of aniovablencarrying device for material to be operated: .upon, means tending to produce acontinuou'sfeeding movement of said device, said movement producing -means including :a' rotary slip coupling and a flexible elongated ,membe'r between said coupling and said carrying device, and means for intermittently preventing such movement; against the action of said movement producing: means.

5. The combination ,of a tool,.a, carrier for the material to be operated upon by the tool and means for producingla relative feeding movement in opposite directions between said tool andsaid-carrier including a driving member and a $1119 coupling driven therefrom, whereby said feeding movement may be arrested without stopping said driving member, and means operated by said carrier for controlling the direction of the saidf eeding movement, 6. The combination of a -tool, means :for

operatingthe same, a carrier for the material to 'b'e operated upon by thetool and means for producing a relative feeding movement in. opposite directions -gbetween said tool and'said carrier including .driving member and a slip coupling drivenitherefrom, mechanical means controlled by said operating means whereby said feeding movement may be arrested Without stopping said driving member, and means governed by the position of said carrier for controlling the direction of the said feeding movement to automatically reverse the same after a predetermined extent of said movement.

7. The combination of a tool, a carrier for the material to be operated upon by the tool and means for producing a relative feeding movement in opposite directions between said tool and said carrier including a driving member and a slip coupling driven therefrom, means including a rack and a movable pawl coacting therewith whereby said feeding movement may be arrested without stopping said driving member, and means including a clutch having an operating member at each end of the path of movement of said carrier to control the direction of the said feeding movement to automatically reverse the same after a predetermined extent of said movement.

8. The combination of a frame, an inclined carrier movably supported thereby and provided with means for releasably securing a sheet to the same, means for moving the carrier in opposite directions including a slip coupling, automatic means for intermittently checking the carrier, and automatic means for releasing said securing means to permit movement of the sheet by gravity transversely to the movement of the carrier after the carrier has moved a predetermined extent.

9. The combination of a framework, operation performing means supported thereby, means for holding the material to be operated upon, means tending to produce a continuous feeding movement of said holding means with respect to said operation performing means, said movement producing means including a yielding coupling, and means controlled by said operation performing means and including a rack and a movable pawl arranged to coact with said rack for intermittently preventing such feeding movement against the action of said movement producing means.

10. The combination of operation performing means, means for holding the material to be operated upon, movement producing means tending to produce a continuous relative feeding movement in either of two opposite direction between said operation performing means and said holding means to elfect operative positioning of successive portions of the material in each of said directions, said movement producing means including a slip coupling and a flexible elongated member between said coupling and said holding means, means mounted at each end of a path of movement of said holding means for controlling said movement producing means to reverse the same at the end of such movement in one direction, and means for intermittently preventing such relative movement when said movement producing means is open ating in either direction.

11. The combination of operation performing means, means for holdin the material to be operated upon, movement producing means tending to produce a continuous relative feeding movement in either of two opposite directions between said operation performing means and said holding means to effect operative positioning of sucwessive portions of the material in each of said directions, said movement producing means including a slip coupling, means mounted at each end of a path of movement of said holding means for controlling said movement producing means to reverse the same at the end of such movement in one direction, and means including a rack and a movable pawl coacting therewith and controlled by said operation performing means for intermittently preventing such relative movement when said movement producing means is operated in either direction.

12. The combination of operation performing means, means for holding the material to be operated upon, movement producing means tending to produce a continuous relative feeding movement in either of two opposite direct-ions between said operation performing means and said holding means to effect operative positioning of surcessive portions of the material in each of said directions, said movement producing means including a slip coupling and a flexible elongated member between said coupling and said holding means, means mounted at each end of a path of movement of said holding means for controlling said movement producing means to reverse the same at the end of such movement in one direction, and means including a rack and a movable pawl coacting therewith and controlled by said operation performing means for intermittently preventing such relative movement when said movement producing means is operating in either direction.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HUGH M. ROSS. 

